POULTRY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11541, 28 November 1900, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES.

Keep 12 to 25 hens to each male, according to breed and vigour. Cracked maize is not best for very young chicks on account of the hard surface. Christmas festivities are approaching; there will be a big demand for poultry and eggs. Turn the eggs half over twice a clay in the incubator. In putting them in the drawer in the first instance simply place them on their side, one against the other. The- Christmas gooso should now be purchased and fattened on good wholesome food. Skimmed milk and pollard, as well as vegetables, can be given. Tho Minorca-Orpington cross is an excellent one as a first cross for laying purposes. A black Hamburg cockerel, if of a good strain, might give even better rosults mated with tho Orpingtons. You can always soil poultry at from 5 to 9 cents per lb, while pork is worth only 3 cents or a. little more, says an American poultry farmer. The egg basket is always a reliable profit when well filled. One of the largest export orders for stock birds yot received in Sydney was executed recently by Mr. E. Butcher, who despatched in one day by the steamer to the Caroline Islands 70 head of first-class breeding birds, consisting of buff, black, and white Orpingtons and Australian game. i Mr. Geo. Hasemer, of Molong, recently camo across an egg which had the appearance of having been made from a two-thirds portion of two eggs, fastened together with a broad band of shell. It weighed a quarter of a pound, and wh?n broken nearly half-filled a teacup. There wore two yolks. Tho Queensland postal authorities have, for some unexplained reason, prohibited the sending of eggs across tho border from New South Wales by parcels post. What the objection can be everybody is at a loss to know. The northern colony hats been a good customer for New South Wales settings of eggs, and the prohibition is a blow to many breeders. The Now South Wales Deputy PostmasterGeneral is endeavouring to have the restriction removed. Occasionally letters like tho following reach the Poultry Department: " I wish to get into communication with some party who itins a big hennery who will undertake to supply me with largo, strictly fresh eggs twice a week the year round at tho same price they would otherwise obtain from the commission merchants. I use from 100 to 300 dozon per week and would use many more if-I could got eggs which were always strictly fresh, 12 to the dozen, at a fair price. I wish all my eggs to come from one place, as I am tired of collected eggs.". By such arrangements tho dealer gets good eggs, and tho farmer raves middleman's profits. No doubt hundreds of dealers are ready to make direct arrangements with reliable egg prodiW>rs, and wholesale poultrymen who are sure of ability to supply the eggs should canvass the high grade produce stores in the nearest large town. ' It is not yet impressed upon the farmer that if ho intends to make poultry pay he must not conduct a side businoss with fowls, but give his whole time and attention to ..their management.' The average farmer has for generations looked upon a flock of hens as self-sup-porting to a certain extent. It is true he may throw out a few handfuls of corn in winter during cold days, and overlook so doing occasionally, but he enters upon a now system when he undertakes to raise large numbers, and he has much to learn, because custom lias long caused him to follow certain lines which he will find it difficult to discard. The clerk in the city who was never on a farm will succeed when the farmer fails, because the clerk will have the future only before him, whilo the 'armer must learn with the past hanging to him and hindering him in every manner. This is an era of new ideas, and the only way to learn is to be willing to test all theories and to experiment. Tho capital required to conduct the poultry business will depend upon how soon one desires to get well into it. The amount necessary to put up buildings and procure stock the first year, if one is impatient to commence, may reach a large figure, but if a beginning is made and a few years are allowed during which to create a business, one can begin with a very moderate sum, as anv increase of the flock is also an increase of capital. More important than capital is the experience gained every year. There is not much to learn by going on a farm where a small flock is kept, as a person must be sufficiently interested to give time and attention to the details in order to learn how to have the fowls always in prime laying condition.